The Development of a Community‐Led Child Protection Approach in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries.

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Title: The Development of a Community‐Led Child Protection Approach in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries.
Authors: Ellermeijer, Rinske Everarda Catharina (AUTHOR), Veldhuizen, Caroline Isabelle Sophie (AUTHOR), Bell, Bill (AUTHOR), Ray, Cynthia (AUTHOR), Krishanthan, Thurairatnam (AUTHOR), Piedrahita, Juan Jose Castellanos (AUTHOR), Reis, Ria (AUTHOR), Jordans, Mark J. D. (AUTHOR)
Source: Child Abuse Review. Nov/Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 6, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Middle-income countries, Child welfare, Human services programs, Focus groups, Research funding, Interviewing, Pilot projects, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Adult education workshops, Low-income countries, Community-based social services
Abstract: Child protection actors, including community members, work to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and the exploitation of children. Child protection approaches implemented by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and other agencies are often located in communities but are not led by those communities. This limits contextual relevance and sustainability. A community‐led child protection approach was developed (Seeds). This paper describes the iterative process of its development, including (1) a systematic review of the literature, (2) formative work in Uganda and Lebanon, (3) a field test in Sri Lanka and (4) a feasibility study in Colombia, with a review by technical experts. This process resulted in the identification of a six‐phase community‐led approach aiming to (i) enhance the protection of children and (ii) increase children's sense of protection. The paper explores four themes that emerged from reflections on the development and testing of Seeds. First, it delves into the relevance of community ownership. Second, Seeds has relevance beyond a narrow professional definition of child protection and could be a generic approach with relevance to other sectors. Third, community‐led processes could be seen as an important part of the localisation agenda. Fourth, there is a need to continue learning about community‐led action in humanitarian contexts. Summary: Implementing a community‐led approach to child protection creates a higher likelihood of contextual relevance and sustainable outcomes.Power can shift from implementing organisations to communities throughout the community action process through the use of facilitation skills such as being humble, deep listening, building trust and creating vision.As a community‐led approach to child protection, Seeds consists of the following 6 phases: (1) community entry and building trust, (2) learning, (3) community action planning, (4) action plan implementation, (5) community reflection on progress and change and (6) exit from the community.The defining characteristics of the approach are that it is (i) a prevention approach, (ii) strengths‐based, (iii) community‐led, (iv) implemented using a facilitation approach, (v) requiring a shift of mindset and (vi) inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Child Abuse Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The Development of a Community‐Led Child Protection Approach in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellermeijer%2C+Rinske Everarda Catharina%22">Ellermeijer, Rinske Everarda Catharina</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Veldhuizen%2C+Caroline Isabelle Sophie%22">Veldhuizen, Caroline Isabelle Sophie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bell%2C+Bill%22">Bell, Bill</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ray%2C+Cynthia%22">Ray, Cynthia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Krishanthan%2C+Thurairatnam%22">Krishanthan, Thurairatnam</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Piedrahita%2C+Juan Jose Castellanos%22">Piedrahita, Juan Jose Castellanos</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reis%2C+Ria%22">Reis, Ria</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jordans%2C+Mark J%2E D%2E%22">Jordans, Mark J. D.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Child+Abuse+Review%22">Child Abuse Review</searchLink>. Nov/Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 6, p1-11. 11p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle-income+countries%22">Middle-income countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+welfare%22">Child welfare</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+services+programs%22">Human services programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Focus+groups%22">Focus groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pilot+projects%22">Pilot projects</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adult+education+workshops%22">Adult education workshops</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low-income+countries%22">Low-income countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community-based+social+services%22">Community-based social services</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Child protection actors, including community members, work to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and the exploitation of children. Child protection approaches implemented by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and other agencies are often located in communities but are not led by those communities. This limits contextual relevance and sustainability. A community‐led child protection approach was developed (Seeds). This paper describes the iterative process of its development, including (1) a systematic review of the literature, (2) formative work in Uganda and Lebanon, (3) a field test in Sri Lanka and (4) a feasibility study in Colombia, with a review by technical experts. This process resulted in the identification of a six‐phase community‐led approach aiming to (i) enhance the protection of children and (ii) increase children's sense of protection. The paper explores four themes that emerged from reflections on the development and testing of Seeds. First, it delves into the relevance of community ownership. Second, Seeds has relevance beyond a narrow professional definition of child protection and could be a generic approach with relevance to other sectors. Third, community‐led processes could be seen as an important part of the localisation agenda. Fourth, there is a need to continue learning about community‐led action in humanitarian contexts. Summary: Implementing a community‐led approach to child protection creates a higher likelihood of contextual relevance and sustainable outcomes.Power can shift from implementing organisations to communities throughout the community action process through the use of facilitation skills such as being humble, deep listening, building trust and creating vision.As a community‐led approach to child protection, Seeds consists of the following 6 phases: (1) community entry and building trust, (2) learning, (3) community action planning, (4) action plan implementation, (5) community reflection on progress and change and (6) exit from the community.The defining characteristics of the approach are that it is (i) a prevention approach, (ii) strengths‐based, (iii) community‐led, (iv) implemented using a facilitation approach, (v) requiring a shift of mindset and (vi) inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Child Abuse Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/car.70074
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Middle-income countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child welfare
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human services programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Focus groups
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      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
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      – SubjectFull: Pilot projects
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      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Adult education workshops
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      – SubjectFull: Low-income countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community-based social services
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              Text: Nov/Dec2025
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              Y: 2025
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